Preserve Rhode Island

10/07/2026

We are now accepting Letters of Inquiry for the 2027 grant round for our 1772 Foundation Grants!

In partnership with Preserve RI, The 1772 Foundation, Inc. offers funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 to non-profits for historic preservation projects in Rhode Island. Learn more and apply by clicking the link in our bio.

09/24/2026

09/22/2026

Registration is now open for Newport Restoration Foundation's Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward symposium.

Held from October 21-23 in Newport, RI, the symposium features 14 practical sessions and 8 site visits. Join NRF to explore solutions that strengthen cultural heritage resilience and shape the future of historic preservation in the wake of climate change. Connect with experts in the field and cultural heritage professionals while seeing first-hand resiliency efforts in Newport.

Learn more and register at newportrestoration.org.

08/25/2026

Preserve Rhode Island is thrilled to announce today the 10 recipients of the 2026 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, it’s more important than ever to recognize the work that ensures that Rhode Island remains a treasure trove of history. This year’s awardees demonstrate diverse approaches to preservation — from landmark-saving brick-and-mortar restoration projects, creating guidelines to better inform future preservation efforts, or mapping precious history that would otherwise be lost.

The 18th annual Rhody Awards will take place at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence on Sunday, October 25th from 4 to 7 PM. Buy your tickets today!

Learn more about the awardees and buy tickets by clicking the link in our bio!

08/17/2026

Preserve Rhode Island is profoundly disappointed by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's (ACHP) July 24 vote to advance sweeping revisions to the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 36 CFR Part 800. The tools our nation relies on to protect its irreplaceable historic and cultural resources are under direct threat — and once again, the process by which that threat was advanced should trouble anyone who cares about transparent, accountable government.

Read our full statement by clicking the link in our bio.

06/25/2026

Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was recently awarded a $10,000 matching grant for historic preservation from The 1772 Foundation in cooperation with Preserve Rhode Island. Replacement of the deteriorating chimney on Pomham Rocks Lighthouse with a watertight, historically accurate one will be part...

06/22/2026

For years, Preserve RI has partnered with GrowSmartRI to advocate for the state’s Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program. This program has a proven track record – it has generated over $2.18 billion in total investment into the state and has generated approximately 20% of all new housing from 2013 through 2023. After unsuccessful efforts to include funding for the program in the Governor’s budget, we worked with key allies in both the House and Senate to introduce two pieces of legislation (H8408 and S3151) in both houses that would address issues with the program, including an extension of the sunset (“sunset” refers to the expiration of a particular law/program). Despite the Senate passing S3151 with a minor Sub A revision, the House did not take action prior to the close of the legislative session. This is likely due to the last-minute change in House Leadership. Without any action by the House, the HTC program will be sunsetting at the end of June.

Preserve RI and Grow Smart RI are currently working with the Division of Taxation to better understand the implications of the program sunsetting. We will provide updates on this critical matter as they arise.

A special thank you to Senators DiPalama and Bissaillon, and Representative Speakman (and all other bill sponsors) for spearheading our legislative efforts. Also, thank you to Senate President Lawson and Majority Leader Ciccone for prioritizing passage in the Senate.

05/12/2026

We were thrilled to welcome guests this past Saturday to our headquarters, Jeremiah Dexter House in Providence. Our program, a walkabout in partnership with the National Park Service (as part of the Washington-Rochambeau trail), led us around the neighborhood to discuss the French encampment on the Dexter property.

At the end of the Revolutionary War, French soldiers led by General Rochambeau camped at the Dexters' farm as they awaited transport back home. This notable event in Rhode Island's contributions to the Revolutionary War in memorialized at Rochambeau Square (at the corner of Summit Ave and Brewster St). This modest memorial was once planned to be part of a 30-acre park that unfortunately never came to fruition.

This program was held in celebration of our Nation's 250th anniversary.

First two photos by Jim Hendrickson.

05/08/2026

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) met yesterday to discuss the proposed painting of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. This proposal does not align with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. It also, simply put, would worsen the appearance of a building whose architectural significance was made clear by the NCPC when they wrote in the building's 1972 National Register nomination that the Eisenhower building "must be preserved." We await the decision of the NCPC, which has been deferred for further study.

Preserve RI submitted a public comment in opposition of this proposed painting. To read what we wrote, please click the link in our bio.

Photo by Jeff Krause.